Transmetro is the bus rapid transit (BRT) system of the Municipality of Guatemala. It has run since 2007, and its flat fare is Q1.00 (Q2.00 on express services), which the municipality says has not gone up. The municipal map shows Transmetro Lines 1, 2, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 18, plus a separate TuBus Route 5.
Quick Transmetro summary: Q1.00 ($0.13 USD) fare with rechargeable card (Q2.00 express). The municipal map shows 7 numbered Transmetro lines, plus TuBus Route 5. Hours vary by line; Line 12 runs 04:30-21:00 daily. The municipality publishes no frequency. Confirm transfer rules before travelling.
What is Transmetro
Transmetro is the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system of the Empresa Metropolitana de Transporte of the Municipality of Guatemala. Running since 2007, it operates buses on an exclusive lane (separated from vehicle traffic) with metro-style enclosed stations.
Technical features:
- Exclusive lane on trunk avenues
- Enclosed stations with turnstile and bus-level platform
- Mandatory prepayment (rechargeable card, NO cash)
Fare: Q1.00 (Q2.00 Express)
Transmetro charges Q1.00 per trip (Q2.00 express). Asked whether the fare has gone up, the official municipal FAQ answers that it has not: it is still Q1.00, and Q2.00 on express services (read 4 November 2026).
August 2026: other city buses went up — Transmetro did not
If you have seen headlines about Guatemala City bus fares jumping to Q7, they do not apply here. The Empresa Municipal de Transporte (EMT) authorised a temporary fare increase from 2 August 2026 for the city’s other authorised urban services — the routes run by independent operators, represented by CATUG. Transmetro and TuBus keep their normal fare.
What makes that cap unusual is that it is indexed to the diesel price, because the whole increase was driven by the end of the Decreto 11-2026 fuel subsidy on 2 July 2026:
| Diesel price per gallon | Maximum urban fare |
|---|---|
| Q30.00 – Q49.99 | Q6.00 |
| Q50.00 or more | Q7.00 |
So which one applies right now? MEM monitored diesel in Guatemala City at Q43.80 per gallon on 3 August 2026 and at Q42.69 on 26 October 2026 — both inside the first band. While the temporary increase is in force, the maximum is therefore Q6.00, not Q7.00. Several operators announced Q7 anyway, so it is worth knowing the rule: at today’s diesel price a Q7 fare exceeds the authorised cap. The increase is temporary, and the EMT resolution requires the fare to be collected only through the electronic prepaid system.
Diesel is the reason for all of it: it rose from Q27.25 on 1 July to Q43.80 on 3 August 2026 (+61%) once the subsidy lapsed. See our gas prices page for the current figure — it is what decides which band the fare cap sits in.
Lines on the Municipal Map
| Line | Axis | Route | Key coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Center | San Sebastián ↔ Centro Cívico | Historic center |
| Line 2 | North | Hipódromo del Norte ↔ San Sebastián | Zone 2 |
| Line 6 | North | Proyectos ↔ FEGUA | Zone 6 and center |
| Line 7 | Periférico | USAC Periférico ↔ La Merced | Periférico corridor |
| Line 12 | South | Centra Sur ↔ Plaza Barrios | Avenida Bolívar / Aguilar Batres |
| Line 13 | South | Tipografía ↔ Plaza Berlín | Southern corridor |
| Line 18 | North | Paraíso / Atlántida ↔ FEGUA | Zone 18 and center |
Connections: Use the municipal map, checked 23 October 2026, for station connections. TuBus Route 5 is shown separately from the seven numbered Transmetro lines. The captured fare FAQ does not establish a 60-minute transfer rule; confirm before relying on it.
How to Pay: The Rechargeable Card
Initial Purchase
- Go to Municipalidad de Guatemala, Mini Munis, recharge machines or provisional exchange counters at Transmetro stations, per the municipal FAQ, read 4 November 2026
- Ask for the Tarjeta Ciudadana (Tarjeta Vecino); affiliated shops are listed as top-up points, not card sales points
- One-time card cost: Q20, credited with 5 initial trips (official FAQ, read 4 November 2026)
- Load initial balance (minimum Q5)
Recharge
Option A: Station machines, affiliated shops and VisaNet terminals
- Recharge machines in Transmetro stations take cash but give no change
- Affiliated shops display a Tarjeta Ciudadana recharge sign
- VisaNet Guatemala card terminals take cash, debit or credit
- Each recharge is Q5 minimum, Q200 maximum; a card can hold up to Q300, and the credit shows within 5 minutes
Option B: Tarjeta Ciudadana website or app
- Register (affiliate) your card on the municipality’s Tarjeta Ciudadana web platform or app; up to 5 cards per account
- Check balance and movements and recharge online
- An affiliated card’s balance can be moved to a replacement card if it is lost or damaged
How to Pass the Turnstile
- Hold your card to the turnstile screen
- The fare is Q1.00 regular or Q2.00 express
- The turnstile releases and you walk through
Tarjeta Adulto Mayor: 4 Free Trips a Day at 60+
The Municipality of Guatemala issues a separate Tarjeta Adulto Mayor for Guatemala City residents (vecinos) aged 60 and over (official notice, updated February 2025, checked August 2026):
- Benefit: 4 free Transmetro trips per day, non-cumulative, Monday to Sunday, 365 days a year.
- Cost: the first card is free; a replacement costs Q20.
- Requirements: apply in person and present your original DPI — the card is personalized with your photo, name and DPI number. Use by anyone other than the cardholder can get the card retained and cancelled.
- Where: Atención al Vecino at the Palacio Municipal (21 Calle 6-77, Zona 1, Centro Cívico); call the muni’s 1551 line to confirm the nearest office that processes it.
Can foreigners get it? The published requirement is a DPI, not Guatemalan citizenship. Foreigners with permanent residency hold the DPI for extranjeros domiciliados — the red DPI issued by RENAP (requirements). A red DPI is a DPI, so it appears to satisfy the published identification requirement — though no municipal page spells out the foreign-resident case explicitly, so confirm at 1551 before you go. On a passport/tourist status only, the municipality publishes no alternative document. The municipality makes the final decision on each application.
Note: the municipality describes the standard Tarjeta Vecino as the card for ages 18-59 (sold at station machines, no ID required, works at-bearer) — the Adulto Mayor card is its published route for riders 60+ (Tarjeta Vecino notice).
Hours and Frequency
The municipal hours chart (read 4 November 2026) gives the first and last service at each line’s end stations:
| Line | Monday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday and holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | 05:00-20:00 | 05:00-19:00 | 06:30-19:00 |
| Line 2 | 05:30-20:00 | 05:30-19:00 | 06:30-19:00 |
| Line 6 | 05:00-21:00 | 05:00-20:00 | 06:00-20:00 |
| Line 7 | 05:00-21:00 | 05:00-20:00 | 06:00-20:00 |
| Line 12 | 04:30-21:00 | 04:30-21:00 | 04:30-21:00 |
| Line 13 | 05:00-21:00 | 05:00-20:00 | 05:00-20:00 |
| Line 18 | 05:00-21:00 | 05:00-20:00 | 06:00-20:00 |
| TuBus Route 5 | 05:30-19:00 | 05:30-19:00 | 06:00-18:00 |
The Line 12 express (Centra Sur / Trébol / Plaza El Amate) runs Monday to Friday 04:30-08:30 and 16:30-19:00, and Saturday 04:30-08:30 and 11:30-13:30. The municipality publishes no frequency for any line. Check same-day announcements before travelling.
Comparison Transmetro vs Other Transports in Guatemala City
| Transport | Fare | Speed | Coverage | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmetro BRT | Q1.00 regular; Q2.00 express | Fast (exclusive lane) | 7 numbered Transmetro lines | High |
| Transurbano (red buses) | Not verified; confirm fare and card with operator | Medium | More routes | Medium |
| Other urban buses (chicken bus and concession routes) | Capped at Q6.00 under the temporary August 2026 rule above | Slow | Whole city | Low |
| Uber | Upfront price in the app | Variable | Uber city list | High |
| Yellow taxi | Agree the fare first | Variable | Whole city | Medium |
When to use Transmetro:
- Trips along trunk avenues (South Axis, North Axis)
- Peak hours (faster than any alternative due to exclusive lane)
- Long trips within the city
- When you want maximum economy
When NOT to use Transmetro:
- Destinations outside the mapped routes
- Getting to the airport (no direct service)
- Outside your line’s operating hours (Line 12: 04:30-21:00 daily)
- When carrying lots of luggage or with small children
Recommended Lines by Zone
If you are going to / coming from:
- La Aurora Airport (Z13): Take Uber/taxi — Transmetro does NOT go directly
- Centra Sur: Line 12 toward Plaza Barrios
- Z10 / Zona Viva: No direct Transmetro stop — take Uber or Transurbano
- Cayala (Z16): Not covered by Transmetro — Uber
- Zone 18: Line 18; choose your station on the municipal map
- USAC Periférico: Line 7
For Tourists: Is It Worth Learning the System?
Pros:
- Q1.00 a trip, against a door-to-door Uber priced in the app
- Exclusive lane faster than cars in peak hours
- Safe, controlled environment
Cons:
- Learning curve (you need to buy the card first)
- Does not reach main tourist zones (Z10, Z14, Antigua)
- Crowding at peak hours
Recommendation: If your lodging is in Z9 or Z10 and you only move between tourist zones, Uber is more practical. If you are staying more than 5 days in Guatemala City and want to save money, buying a Tarjeta Ciudadana is worth it.
For Locals / Residents
For Guatemalans who live in Guatemala City and work in Transmetro-connected zones, the arithmetic is simple:
- Worker with daily trip Q1.00 going + Q1.00 return = Q2.00/day
- 20 working days/month = Q40/month, plus the one-time Q20 card (which comes with 5 trips)
Safety on Transmetro
What the system’s design gives you:
- Controlled access by turnstile (people without a card cannot enter)
- Prepayment on a card, so no cash is handled on board
Safety recommendations:
- Phone in inner pocket, not in hand
- Backpack in front at peak hours
- Avoid using visible jewelry or watches
- At low-traffic stations (late at night), wait inside the station, not on the street
For more information see Guatemala safety guide.
Transfers and Multimodal Connections
| Origin-Destination | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Z6 → Z12 | Consult the municipal map for connections between Line 6 and your destination |
| Z18 → Z11 | Consult the municipal map for connections between Lines 18 and 7 |
| Airport → Z10 | Direct Uber (not Transmetro) |
| Antigua → Z10 | Antigua-Capital shuttle, then Uber or Transmetro |
| CENMA → Tikal Futura | Consult the municipal map and confirm the connection; no direct route established here |
Official Links
- muniguate.com — Transmetro
- EMTM customer service: consult with the municipality
- Mobile app: MuniGuate (Android / iOS)
Other transport options:
- Uber Guatemala pricing — how the app sets the price
- Taxi vs Uber — comparison
- Litegua bus to the east — to Puerto Barrios
- Lake Atitlan lancha routes
- Driving in Guatemala — alternative with car
- Airport to Antigua — shuttle to Antigua
- Is Transmetro running today? — today’s published band by line, the channel that announces suspensions, and what stops the system
Q1.00 fare (Q2.00 express), card rules and hours re-verified 4 November 2026 against the Municipality of Guatemala. Fares and schedules may be adjusted by municipal decisions.
Sources
- Fares, card price, where to buy and recharge, recharge limits: Municipalidad de Guatemala, Tarjeta Ciudadana FAQ, read 4 November 2026
- Hours by line and Line 12 express windows: Municipalidad de Guatemala, Transmetro service-hours chart, read 4 November 2026
- Line list: Municipalidad de Guatemala, Transmetro map, checked 23 October 2026
